June Martinez Mayor's Message

Jun 01, 2015 09:54PM
● By Jennifer Neys

by Rob Schroder, Martinez Mayor

We
are facing a fourth consecutive dry year and our reservoirs are as low as they
have been since the drought of 1986 to 1991. In 2013 California received less
precipitation than any year since it became a state in 1850. All indications
are that it will take years to recover from this dry spell and refill our
storage systems. It is time that all of us accept the fact that California is a
desert and we must capture the rainfall in wet years and adjust how we use
water in our personal and business lives. Where there is no water there is no
economy, no jobs, and no life.

The situation is so dire that the governor declared a
state of emergency and mandated a 25% statewide reduction in water use on April
1. This unprecedented action drives home the severity of the drought and the
need for all of us to cut wasteful habits and treat water as a precious
commodity.

Both the Contra Costa Water District (CCWD) and the city
water system serve the City of Martinez. The city system purchases raw water
from CCWD, treats it at the city water treatment facility, and pumps it to a number
of hilltop reservoirs. The drinking water is then delivered to over 10,000
customers located in the western half of the city, as well as the areas of Vine
Hill and Alhambra Valley.

CCWD recently
adopted a 25% Drought Management Plan, and the city recently declared its
intent to take the same
action at a public hearing to be held on July 1. Under the mandate by the governor, we must reduce
water usage by 25% compared to 2013 usage or be subject to fines of $10,000 per
day for each day in
violation of the regulations. The city water system and many city residents and
businesses are subject to the CCWD proposed restrictions and pricing
adjustments. It is important that we treat all residents equally. The Martinez
City Council will likely adopt a conservation program that parallels CCWD’s
program.

The new conservation regulations will include the
following prohibitions:

·
Using potable water to wash sidewalks, patios
and driveways

·
Allowing runoff when irrigating with potable
water

·
Using hoses without automatic shutoff nozzles to
wash cars

·
Using potable water in a decorative water
feature with no recirculation

·
Irrigating outdoors more than twice per week,
during daylight hours, and within 48 hours following measurable precipitation

Martinez Public Works crews have already reduced watering
of landscaping to twice a week and cut back watering times by 25%. More
efficient sprinkler heads are replacing old and wasteful systems, and we are
using large amounts of recycled water to irrigate medians and parks. In fact,
residents that are serviced by the Central Contra Costa Sanitary District
(CCCSD) can obtain up to 300 gallons a day of recycled water for personal use.

My family is
trying to do our part as well by installing shut-off valves on all showerheads
and cutting

back outdoor
watering to twice a week (for only 5 minutes per station). We also have 5

gallon buckets in each shower to catch running water while
waiting for it to turn warm. That water is used to irrigate the garden and
potted plants.

For more
information on the emergency water regulations and tips on how to conserve our
precious